U.S. patent number 7,165,273 [Application Number 11/277,777] was granted by the patent office on 2007-01-23 for headwear with cutout to accommodate eyewear and other items.
Invention is credited to Thomas W. Redmond.
United States Patent |
7,165,273 |
Redmond |
January 23, 2007 |
**Please see images for:
( Reexamination Certificate ) ** |
Headwear with cutout to accommodate eyewear and other items
Abstract
Headwear is disclosed having a cut-out or opening along the
bottom side edges to accommodate eyewear or other items, and
eliminate interference in the ear area between the headwear and the
eyewear or other item. The cut-out or opening is defined by a
headwear bottom side edge that is substantially different and/or
higher than the generally smooth, consistent arc seen in the prior
art.
Inventors: |
Redmond; Thomas W. (Brentwood,
TN) |
Family
ID: |
37663519 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/277,777 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/209.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B
1/247 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A42B
1/24 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;2/195.7,12,15,209,425,209.3,423,171,DIG.11 ;351/123 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Welch; Gary L.
Assistant Examiner: Cline; Sally Colson
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Galbreath Law Offices, P.C.
Galbreath; John A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An article of headwear, comprising: (a) a main body adapted to
at least partially cover a user's head, said main body including
front, side, and rearward portions; (b) an opening at a bottom edge
of said side portion; the bottom edge of said side portion
subscribing a substantially smooth arc from said front portion to
said rearward portion except for said opening; (c) said opening
defined by a gap between said bottom edge of said side portion at
said opening and said substantially smooth arc; said opening being
between said front portion and said rearward portion; whereby said
headwear does not interfere with eyewear or other items worn on the
user's head.
2. The headwear of claim 1, wherein said headwear is a cap.
3. The headwear of claim 2, wherein said cap has a bottom
circumference substantially surrounding the user's head, and a bill
extending from said bottom circumference.
4. The headwear of claim 1, wherein said headwear is a visor.
5. The headwear of claim 4, wherein said visor has a bottom
circumference substantially surrounding the user's head, and a bill
extending from said bottom circumference.
6. The headwear of claim 1, wherein said opening has a shape, from
said front portion to said rearward portion, defined by a gradual
incline away from said arc to a point proximate to the user's ear,
and then a steeper decline back to said arc rearward of the user's
ear.
7. The headwear of claim 1, wherein said headwear has left and
right side portions, with one said opening located at a bottom edge
of said left side portion and one said opening located at a bottom
edge of said right side portion.
8. An article of headwear, comprising: (a) a main body adapted to
at least partially cover a user's head, said main body including
front, side, and rearward portions; (b) a bottom edge of said side
portion, said bottom edge of said side portion being indented from
an arc described between a bottom edge of said front portion and a
bottom edge of said rearward portion; said indentation tapering
smoothly from a narrower extent at said front portion of said main
body to a wider extent at said rearward portion; said indentation
being between said front portion and said rearward portion; whereby
said headwear does not interfere with eyewear or other items worn
on the user's head.
9. The headwear of claim 8, wherein said headwear is a cap.
10. The headwear of claim 9, wherein said cap has a bottom
circumference substantially surrounding the user's head, and a bill
extending from said bottom circumference.
11. The headwear of claim 8, wherein said headwear is a visor.
12. The headwear of claim 11, wherein said visor has a bottom
circumference substantially surrounding the user's head, and a bill
extending from said bottom circumference.
13. The headwear of claim 8, wherein said bottom edge of said side
portion, from said front portion to said rearward portion, moves
gradually away from said arc to a point proximate to the user's
ear, and then declines more steeply back to said arc rearward of
the user's ear.
14. The headwear of claim 8, wherein said headwear has left and
right side portions, with a bottom edge of said left side portion
being indented and a bottom edge of said right side portion being
indented.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the area of headwear.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various forms of headwear, including caps and visors, are known in
the prior art. In this prior art headwear, the bottom edge of the
sides of the headwear trace a generally smooth, consistent arc from
the front to the back of the headwear. This creates a problem when
the user also wears glasses, sunglasses, or other items such as
earpiece-style headphones or hearing aids--because the bottom edge
of the sides of the headwear interfere with the earpiece portion of
the eyewear or other item, making for an uncomfortable fit. Often,
the user cannot wear his cap in a way that provides the best fit,
because doing so interferes with the fit of his eyewear or other
item near the ear area.
Recently, eyewear makers have increasingly offered eyewear with
"straight frame" earpieces that sit higher on the head, thereby
exacerbating the interference issue between the headwear and the
eyewear. Such eyewear designs are considered more stylish, and have
becomes very popular. In addition, depending on the size, shape,
and location of a user's ears, the side portions of headwear can
interfere with the ears themselves. This makes for an uncomfortable
fit of the cap against the head, even without eyewear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is headwear with a cut-out or opening along the
bottom side edges to accommodate eyewear or other items, and
eliminate interference in the ear area between the headwear and the
eyewear or other item. The cut-out or opening does not detract from
the fit of the headwear, because when covering the outside of an
elliptical or oval shape such as a user's head, the pressure is
primarily in the area of the long ends of the ellipse--that is, the
front and back of the head, and not the sides. Thus, a cut-out or
opening on the bottom side edge of the headwear does not
significantly disturb the fit or feel of the headwear.
Several objects and advantages of the invention are:
It is an object of the invention to provide a device that prevents
interference between the bottom side portions of headwear and
eyewear or other items worn in, on, or around the ear area.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that
prevents interference between the bottom side portions of headwear
and the ear itself.
It is a further object that the invention can be implemented on
many different types of headwear, and can prevent interference with
many different types of eyewear or other items.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device that
is relatively easy and cost-effective to manufacture.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional cap known in the
art, and having a smooth, uninterrupted arc along the bottom side
edge.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art cap shown in FIG. 1,
wherein the earpiece of an eyewear article interferes with the
bottom side edge of the cap.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional visor known in the
art, and having a smooth, uninterrupted arc along the bottom side
edge. The earpiece of an eyewear article interferes with the bottom
side edge of the visor.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the headwear of the invention in
the form of a cap, the cap having a cut-out or opening along the
bottom side edge to accommodate eyewear or other items, and
eliminate interference in the ear area between the cap and the
eyewear or other item. Note that the bottom side edge arc of a
conventional cap is indicated with a dashed line, in order to
clearly illustrate the cutout or opening in the cap of the
invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the headwear of the invention in
the form of a visor, the visor having a cut-out or opening along
the bottom side edge to accommodate eyewear or other items, and
eliminate interference in the ear area between the visor and the
eyewear or other item. Note that the bottom side edge arc of a
conventional visor is indicated with a dashed line, in order to
clearly illustrate the cutout or opening in the visor of the
invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 4, without
the dashed line that indicates the bottom side edge arc of a
conventional cap.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the cap shown in FIG. 6, as worn on the
head of a user.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the visor shown in FIG. 5, without
the dashed line that indicates the bottom side edge arc of a
conventional visor.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cap shown in FIG. 6, wherein
the earpiece of an eyewear article fits into the cut-out or
opening, and thus does not interfere with the bottom side edge of
the cap.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the visor shown in FIG. 8, wherein
the earpiece of an eyewear article fits into the cut-out or
opening, and thus does not interfere with the bottom side edge of
the visor.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the other (right) side of the cap
shown in FIG. 6, wherein the other (right) earpiece of an eyewear
article fits into the cut-out or opening, and thus does not
interfere with the bottom side edge of the cap.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the other (right) side of the
visor shown in FIG. 8, wherein the other (right) earpiece of an
eyewear article fits into the cut-out or opening, and thus does not
interfere with the bottom side edge of the visor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following provides a list of the reference characters used in
the drawings: 10. Cap 11. Cap bottom left side edge (prior art) 12.
Eyewear 13. Left earpiece 14. Visor 15. Visor bottom left side edge
(prior art) 16. Inner headband 17. Cap bottom left side edge
(invention) 18. Cap left side cut-out 19. Visor bottom left side
edge (invention) 20. Visor left side cut-out 21. Right earpiece 22.
Cap bottom right side edge (invention) 23. Cap right side cut-out
24. Visor bottom right side edge (invention) 25. Visor right side
cut-out
FIGS. 1 3 illustrate prior art headwear, and demonstrate the
eyewear interference issue that the present invention solves. FIG.
1 shows a conventional cap 10, which has a smooth, uninterrupted
arc along cap bottom left side edge 11. Eyewear 12 is also
illustrated. FIG. 2 shows cap 10 with eyewear 12 in place as it
would be worn by a person. It can be seen that left earpiece 13 of
eyewear 12 interferes with cap bottom left side edge 11 of cap 10.
In other words, it is difficult to don eyewear 12 and place left
earpiece 13 over the ear, because cap bottom left side edge 11
(which rests against the head) comes down too close to the ear, and
prevents left earpiece 13 from being placed over the ear. Often, in
order to fit, left earpiece 13 must rest over cap 10's lower left
side portion, above cap bottom left side edge 11. This is
uncomfortable, and negatively influences the fit and feel of both
cap 10 and eyewear 12. Moreover, as cap 10 shifts on the user's
head during normal activity, cap 10 shifts the position of left
earpiece 13 and thus eyewear 12, which is distracting and
uncomfortable.
FIG. 3 shows a conventional visor 14, also having a smooth,
uninterrupted arc along visor bottom left side edge 15. As with the
cap, left earpiece 13 of eyewear 12 interferes with visor bottom
left side edge 15. In order to fit, left earpiece 13 must rest over
visor 14's lower left side portion, above visor bottom left side
edge 15. This causes the same fit and comfort problems discussed
above.
FIG. 4 shows the headwear of the invention in the form of a cap 10.
In sharp contrast to the conventional cap illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 2, this cap 10 has a cap bottom left side edge 17 that is
substantially different and/or higher than the cap bottom left side
edge 11 seen in the prior art, thereby creating a cap left side
cut-out 18 along the bottom left side edge portion of cap 10. Note
that cap bottom left side edge 11, of the conventional cap shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, is indicated in FIG. 4 with a dashed line. This
clearly illustrates the difference between cap bottom left side
edge 11 in a conventional cap and cap bottom left side edge 17 in
the cap of the invention, thus accentuating cap left side cut-out
18. Cap 10 also has an inner headband 16, and it should be
understood that in the invention, the bottom edge of inner headband
16 is also cut-out versus a conventional cap, such that inner
headband 16 does not interfere with eyewear 12, other items worn in
the ear area, or even the ear itself.
FIG. 5 shows the headwear of the invention in the form of visor 14.
In sharp contrast to the conventional visor illustrated in FIG. 3,
this visor 14 has a visor bottom left side edge 19 that is
substantially different and/or higher than the visor bottom left
side edge 15 seen in the prior art, thereby creating a visor left
side cut-out 20 along the bottom left side edge portion of visor
14. Note that visor bottom left side edge 15, of the conventional
visor shown in FIG. 3, is indicated in FIG. 5 with a dashed line.
This clearly illustrates the difference between visor bottom left
side edge 15 in a conventional visor and visor bottom left side
edge 19 in the visor of the invention, thus accentuating visor left
side cut-out 20.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the cap shown in FIG. 4 in perspective and
side view respectively, but without the dashed line that indicates
cap bottom left side edge 11 in a conventional cap. Similarly, FIG.
8 illustrates the visor shown in FIG. 5, without the dashed line
that indicates visor bottom left side edge 15 in a conventional
visor. As seen in FIG. 7, when cap 10 is worn by a user, cap left
side cut-out 18 is substantially proximate to the user's ear. Cap
left side cut-out 18 creates a space above and around the ear, so
that earpieces of eyewear, or other items, do not interfere with
headwear. Although not shown in the figures, it can be understood
that visor left side cut-out 20 is also substantially proximate to
the user's ear when the visor is worn.
FIG. 9 further illustrates the cap of FIG. 6, but with eyewear 12
in place as it would be worn by a person. Left earpiece 13 of
eyewear 12 fits into cap left side cut-out 18. It can be
appreciated that cap left side cut-out 18 serves to accommodate
eyewear 12 or other items worn in the ear area, and eliminate
interference in the ear area between cap 10 and eyewear 12 or
another item.
FIG. 10 further illustrates the visor of FIG. 8, but with eyewear
12 in place as it would be worn by a person. Left earpiece 13 of
eyewear 12 fits into visor left side cut-out 20. It can be
appreciated that visor left side cut-out 20 serves to accommodate
eyewear 12 or other items worn in the ear area, and eliminate
interference in the ear area between visor 14 and eyewear 12 or
another item.
FIG. 11 illustrates the other (right) side of the cap 10 shown in
FIG. 6. Right earpiece 21 of eyewear 12 fits into cap right side
cut-out 23, and right earpiece 21 thus does not interfere with cap
bottom right side edge 22 of cap 10. Similarly, FIG. 12 illustrates
the other (right) side of the visor 14 shown in FIG. 8. Right
earpiece 21 of eyewear 12 fits into visor right side cut-out 25,
and right earpiece 21 thus does not interfere with visor bottom
right side edge 24 of visor 14. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of
the other (right) side of the visor shown in FIG. 8, wherein the
other (right) earpiece of an eyewear article fits into the cut-out
or opening, and thus does not interfere with the bottom side edge
of the visor.
While the above descriptions contain many specificities, these
shall not be construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention, but rather as exemplifications of embodiments thereof.
Many other variations are possible without departing from the
spirit of the invention. Examples of just a few of the possible
variations follow:
The size and shape of the cut-out can vary, in order to accommodate
different-sized items that are placed in the ear area.
Only one side (left or right) can have the cut-out, rather than
both sides as described above.
It should be understood that "cut-out" is used as a convenient term
to describe the opening at the lower side portion of the headwear,
and "cut-out" should not be taken to mean that the invention must
be made by literally cutting out the lower side portion of existing
headwear. Although this certainly could be done, it can be
appreciated that the invention can also be made via a pattern that
incorporates the cut-out. Thus, "cut-out" should be understood to
simply mean an opening in the lower side portion of the headwear
that prevents interference between the headwear and eyewear or
other items, or that prevents interference between the headwear and
the ear itself. The invention can be implemented on other forms of
headwear, besides the cap and visor shown and described. As just
one example, it can be implemented on cap and visor styles that do
not have a closed back or a strap completely across the back, but
instead have two side members that "clamp" the head to hold the cap
or visor on. The claim language that follows is intended to
encompass such headwear styles.
The invention can be implemented to prevent interference with other
forms, sizes, and styles of eyewear, besides the eyewear shown and
described. It can also be implemented to prevent interference with
other articles worn in, on, or around the ear area, including for
example items such as earpiece-style headphones, hearing aids,
etc.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by
the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their
legal equivalents.
* * * * *